Motihari, Dec 29 (PTI) An Iranian national was apprehended near India-Nepal border in Raxaul of Bihar's East Champaran district as he did not have an Indian visa, immigration officials said on Sunday.

Hamed Akbari (38) was wearing robes of a Buddhist monk when he was held during the routine search of Indo-Nepal Friendship Bus on Saturday, Raxaul's Assistant Immigration Officer Prem Ranjan Singh said.

The immigration officials recovered an Iranian passport and a UNHCR card from Akbari, who is a resident of Tehran, he said.

Akbari claimed to be a Buddhist monk and told officials that he was living in India since 2008 and was presently staying at Bodh Gaya, Singh said.

He refused to divulge further information about himself, saying his Guru has commanded him not to talk about the past, the officer said.

After his interrogation by officials of various agencies, Akbari was handed over to the Raxaul police, the immigration officer added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)